Abstract
The Search for the Shortest Period Binary White Dwarfs: The Latest Results from the ELM Survey
Alexandros Gianninas (University of Oklahoma)
Paul Canton, Mukremin Kilic (University of Oklahoma), Warren R. Brown (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory), J.J. Hermes (University of Warwick)
Extremely low mass (ELM) white dwarfs with M < 0.30 Msol represent the end point of the evolution of compact binary systems. They are the possible progenitors of type Ia supernovae, underluminous .Ia supernovae, AM CVn systems, and are important sources of gravitational waves. We will present the latest results from the ongoing ELM Survey, our targeted search for short-period (P < 1 day), extremely low mass white dwarf binaries. We will present several new systems which we have identified over the course of the last year. This includes the exciting discovery of a new 20 min system which constitutes a new verification binary for gravitational wave detectors operating in the mHz range such as eLISA.
Mode of presentation: oral